Although seemingly simple at first glance, the seatpost on your ride actually plays an important role in the comfort and setup of your bike. If you are looking to replace or upgrade a seatpost, there are a few considerations to consider, such as; your riding discipline, the diameter, the materials used and your budget.
Seat Posts Explained
Searching for a seatpost can be daunting due to the sheer volume of available options. Which seat post is suitable for you usually depends on your riding discipline and your type of bike. Regardless of your riding style, knowing which seatpost diameter best suits your bike is important. The measurements are usually printed on the underside of the seat post; otherwise, you can use callipers or your bike's specification sheet to find them. The standard diameters for modern road bikes and mountain bikes are usually 27.2, 30.9 or 31.6 mm, but it is also somewhat common for other diameters, such as 25.4mm, to be used.
Seatposts are usually made of aluminium, while more expensive versions are usually made of carbon fibre. If you’re replacing a seat post off a more modern ride, it will typically be a d-shaped component designed to aid in aerodynamic efficiency while offering a little more vertical compliance or comfort when riding. On the mountain bike side, Dropper seat posts quickly became popular with off-road riders, where the saddle height can be adjusted at the push of a button, which increases maneuverability on descents. To learn more, check out our [Dropper Seat Post Buyer’s Guide](https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/blog/buyers-guide-to-mountain-bike-dropper-se
